U.S. ROUTE 6-KANE, PENNSYLVANIA

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BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH

Nestled at the edge of the Allegheny
National Forest, Kane has a rich history. It was named for the Civil
War leader of Pennsylvania's Bucktail Regiment,Thomas
L. Kane, who founded the town in the early 1860s. Moving here with
his wife, Dr. Elizabeth
Kane, he first called the area "Clarion Summit," then
it became"Kane Summit," and the name that finally stuck was "Kane."
General Kane was wounded in battle and was taken as a prisoner of war as
well. He also fought at theBattle
of Gettysburg, and is revered by the Mormons for single-handedly
helping avert an all-out war between the Mormons and the U.S. government
in the late 1800s. A county in Utah is named for him, and a full-size statue
of Kane occupies a central position in the rotunda of the Utah State Capital
building in Salt Lake City. Although not a Mormon himself, General Kane
was repulsed by the persecution of the Mormons and fought for their human
rights. Kane also was a friend of several U.S. Presidents, including Grant,
Buchanan,
and Polk.His brother, Elisha
Kent Kane was, himself, a famous Arctic explorer and painter whose
death celebration rivaled that of President Lincoln. A crater on the moon
, a US naval ship, and an Arctic waterway are named for him. In 1921 Dr. Evan O'Neill
Kanemade medical surgical history by removing his own appendix.

SITES TO SEE

Holgate
Toys, America's Finest Wooden Toys, are once again made in Kane
and sold throughout the US. The original company started in 1929 and Jarvis
Rockwell, brother of Norman, was the chief toy designer. Stop
and visit the museum and shop at the factory toy store. See
the toys being made! The Thomas
L. Kane Memorial Chapel and Museumcontains memorabilia from the
Kane family including items from both brothers, as well as family heirlooms
such as a a tea set used by Thomas Jefferson and other famous Americans.
Owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the museum offers
a media presentation about General Kane. Admission is free. A statue identical
to the one in the Utah State Capital building, stands in front of the museum
in Kane. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The old Pennsylvania Railroad Depot
was constructed in the late 1800s. It is being transformed into the Kane
Railroad Depot and Museum to preserve the transportation heritage
of Kane. It will be a community museum and cultural center.Seneca
Springwas a favorite stopover spot for Native Americans . A trail
crossed the Big Level on the way south. This was once the main route from
Onandaga, the Iroquois capital, to the Ohio and the Carolinas. The Kane
Manor Country Innis a Bed and Breakfast establishment and was the
home of the Kane family after General Kane died. Constructed in 1897, it
contains original paintings and other memorabilia and relics of the Kane
family and is a favorite place for visitors to stay. It is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.The Historic
New Thomson Housebecame a popular
resort in the early 1900s during the summer months because the climate of
Kane was known to be "healthy." It is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.Twelve miles away is the Kinzua
Viaduct or Bridge. General Kane ordered this railroad bridge built
to traverse the Kinzua Creek Valley. It is one of the highest, longest railroad
bridges in the world, and has been visited by millions since its construction
in the late 1800s. President Ulysses S. Grant, a friend of General
Kane, also visited this structure which was once billed as the Eighth Wonder
of the World. An excursion train makes daily trips to the bridge in the
summer and fall. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

FUN AND RELAXATION

The Allegheny National Forest
was recently selected as one of the top six vacation spots in the United
States. People flock here to camp, hike on segments of the Appalachian
Trail, boat and fish in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania.The Knox
& Kane Railroad Steam Train Excursion carries many visitors
to the historic Kinzua Bridge and back.The
Sir Isaac Newton Astronomical Society,a group of local amateur astronomers,will
often have their 8-inch diameter telescope out on summer nights for public
viewing of the heavens. The Society won the Edmond Scientific International
Award for promoting National Astronomy Day.A Black Cherry Festival is
held in Kane every July. The 3-day fest includes stage shows, an art exhibit,
music, food, game and craft booths, a variety of vendors,tournaments,antique
car show and more! Evergreen
Enchanted Playground is a community-built creative play area in
Evergreen Park in Kane. The park is a favorite picnic area and includes
tennis,basketball, and volleyball courts as well as a baseball field. Summer is also a time to enjoy the
Kinzua Dam and
Allegheny Reservoir 8 miles away. It offers boating, swimming, fishing
(walleye,bass,muskies, northern pike,trout),camping, hiking and picnicking.
In the fall, Kane becomes a hot spot
for deer hunters. In the winter, the Kane area is a haven for Cross-Country
Skiing and Snowmobiling with many trails leaving town and going
through the forest areas. Other activities include golfing
at the Kane Country Club, the Family Drive-In Theater, rollerskating
at Shirley's Temple, swimming in the high school's indoor pool or
various beaches at the Kinzua Dam, and bowling at Rose Bowl Lanes.

FACTS AND STATISTICS

Kane is a favorite tourism site of
summer and winter visitors alike. The Kane Area School District has a population
of about 5000, and the schools' mascot is a wolf because in 1921 Kane's
Dr. McCleery
started a wolf farm in a successful effort to save the world's remaining
lobo wolves from extinction. In 1949 Kane High won the Class B
state championship basketball title. From the outlying area of Kane known
as "Jo Jo," came world champion pool table trick shot artist,
Clarence "Sunshine"
Anderson.On May 31, 1985 a tornado
hit Kane. This was the worst natural disaster in Kane's history.Kane is the hometown of Chuck
Daly, who coached the NBAs Detroit Pistons to two national championships,coached
the Gold Medalist Dream Team at the Olympics, and was inducted into
the Basketball Hall of Fame. Kane native Amy
Rudolphis one of two women who represented the USA in the 5000
meter race in the Olympics in the summer of 1996. Kane Middle School's Science
Olympiad Team placed second at the Pennsylvania state competition
in April 1996 and competed in Atlanta in the National competition. Kane is the home of Mr. Robert
Carson, a distinguised retired biology-psychology instructor, historian,author,
speaker,inventor, photographer, and philosopher. He is a gentleman through
and through. Kane is also home for Edgar "Jesse
" James, the mayor, and Mr. Glennis
Rickert, the 102 year-old former teacher, principal, and superintendent.The Lumber industry is big
in the Kane area which grows such a large crop of black cherry that it has
been nicknamed the Black
Cherry Capital of the World. HistoricU.S. Route 6--Grand Army of the Republic Highway-- runs
through Kane. Kane's
uptown merchants cater to visitors as only a small town can. Kane
has a daily newspaper (Kane
Republican), FM radio station, hospital,churches,fine dining restaurants,
a variety of shops, motels, area campgrounds, and is a... prime site
for industry location.

CURRENT EVENTS

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Commerce, 14 Greeves St., Kane, PA 16735 ---Phone:(814) 837-6565. Note:
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